The smacking debate

[rustygirl]

ITAFirstly sounds like you stopped your behaviour out of fear of getting a smack, not because you knew the behaviour was bad. I think it is cruel to tell them when they get home they will get a smack. It is making them spend the whole time out worrying about what will happen when they get home. I know this because I have had many discussions with my mum who was always told "when your father gets home he will deal with you" and she would worry ALL day. (usually for no reason because he would either say not to worry or yell a bit)
Secondly it is illegal to smack a child with anything OTHER than your hand, so a object SHOULDN'T be used. You are only allowed to smack below the waist and you are not allowed to leave any marks.

I was just sharing my experience as a child. I was NOT opening my childhood for you to judge or tell me how I felt. I am just discussing the issue at hand using my experiances as an example. ie I don't have any mental issues and I don't hate my mother or resent her for smacking me.I was NEVER scared of getting a smack. I just knew that it was going to hurt and I wouldn't do it knowing the consequences. I have been googleing the laws in Australia against smacking and there are none as far as I can see. Only discussion thus far.

Joe Tucci, CEO of Australians Childhood Foundation said "It's legal to use physical discipline but it's not legal to assault your child. And that's the difference, the difference is not about, talking about whether parents should smack or not smack, this is about the law and whether parents who cause an injury to the child under the name of discipline should be held accountable."

I found this quote on one of the sites that I found and it pretty much sums up EXACTLY what I was trying to say before. That there is a difference between a smack as discipline in a controlled environment and in the right context ie not a fly off the handle whack or thump as the child passes by & worse situations that I can't even imagine that some children actually endure.
I WILL NOT be smacking my child with my hand as it goes against what I believe is right.